Removable clip for an animal enclosure

Abstract

An animal enclosure includes a door, a door frame, and a plurality of members each formed by a plurality of interconnecting horizontal and vertical wires. The door is movably coupled to the door frame between an open position and a closed position, where in any position except for the closed position an opening formed in the door frame is at least partially exposed to provide access to the interior of the enclosure. A clip is removably coupled to any one of the plurality of members. The clip includes a body formed by a first member, a top member, a base member, a second member, and a finger portion. The finger portion extends downward from the top member to define a first opening between the finger portion, the top member, and the first member.

1 . A clip for being removably coupled to an animal enclosure, the clip comprising:
 a first member defined in a first plane;   a second member defined in a second plane, the first plane being parallel to the second plane;   a base member integrally coupled between the first member and the second member, the base member defined in a third plane which is perpendicular to the first and second planes;   a top member integrally coupled to the first member, the top member being disposed in a fourth plane which is parallel to the third plane; and   a finger portion integrally formed with the top member and extending downwardly in a direction parallel to the first and second members;   wherein, a first opening is defined between the finger portion, the top member and the first member;   wherein, a second opening is defined between the first member, the base member, and the second member;   wherein, the second opening is larger than the first opening.   
     
     
         2 . The clip of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate member integrally coupled to the first member, the intermediate member located between the top member and the base member. 
     
     
         3 . The clip of  claim 2 , further comprising a second finger portion integrally coupled with the intermediate portion and spaced from the first member to form a third opening. 
     
     
         4 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the top member and intermediate member extend from the first member in a first direction and the base member extends from the first member in a second direction, where the first direction is opposite the second direction. 
     
     
         5 . A method for opening a door of an animal enclosure to a desired size opening, the method comprising:
 providing the animal enclosure comprising a door, a door frame, and a plurality of members each formed by a plurality of interconnecting horizontal and vertical wires to define an interior of the enclosure;   providing a clip comprising a body including at least a first member, a top member, a base member, a second member, and a finger portion;   identifying a first horizontal wire of the door frame which corresponds to the desired size opening;   coupling the clip to a second horizontal wire of the door frame such that the base member is disposed proximate to or above the first horizontal wire;   locating the second horizontal wire in a first opening formed by the finger portion, the top member and the first member of the clip;   moving the door from its closed position to a new position where a lowermost horizontal wire of the door is disposed relative to the door frame such that the desired size opening is formed; and   positioning a horizontal wire of the door in a second opening of the clip formed by the second member, the base member and the first member such that the lowermost horizontal wire contacts the base member.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the coupling step comprises coupling the clip to the door frame at a location outside of the opening formed in the door frame. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 providing a second clip comprising a body including at least a first member, a top member, a base member, a second member, and a finger portion;   coupling the second clip to a third horizontal wire of the door frame such that the base member of the second clip is disposed proximate to or above the first horizontal wire;   locating the third horizontal wire in a first opening of the second clip formed by the finger portion, the top member and the first member of the second clip; and   positioning another horizontal wire of the door in a second opening of the second clip formed by its second member, base member and first member.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 providing the clip with an intermediate member having a second finger portion which defines a third opening between the intermediate member, the second finger portion and the first member; and   coupling a further horizontal wire of the door frame in the third opening of the clip, where the further horizontal wire is located below the second horizontal wire of the door frame.   
     
     
         9 . An animal enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of members each formed by a plurality of interconnecting horizontal and vertical wires, the plurality of members defining an interior of the enclosure and including at least a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, a first side member and a second side member;   a door frame formed in one of the front, rear, first side member and second side member, the door frame formed by a plurality of interconnecting horizontal and vertical wires;   a door formed by a plurality of interconnecting horizontal and vertical wires, the door being movably coupled to the door frame between an open position and a closed position, where in any position except for the closed position an opening formed in the door frame is at least partially exposed to provide access to the interior of the enclosure; and   a clip removably coupled to any one of the plurality of members, the clip comprising a body formed by a first member, a second member, a top member, a base member, an intermediate member coupled to the first member, a second member, and a finger portion, where the second member is coupled to the base member and spaced from the first member;   wherein, the finger portion extends downward from the top member to define a first opening between the finger portion, the top member, and the first member;   wherein, when coupled to any one of the plurality of members, a first horizontal wire of the one of the plurality of members is disposed within the first opening and the first member is in contact with a second horizontal wire of the one of the plurality of members, where the first horizontal wire is spaced from the second horizontal wire;   wherein, the intermediate member includes a second finger portion extending downward therefrom to define a third opening between the second finger portion, the intermediate member, and the first member.   
     
     
         10 . The animal enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein, when coupled to any one of the plurality of members, a third horizontal wire of the one of the plurality of members is disposed within the third opening. 
     
     
         11 . The animal enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the top member is at least partially parallel to the base member. 
     
     
         12 . The animal enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the first member is at least partially perpendicular to the top member and base member. 
     
     
         13 . The animal enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the finger portion is partially parallel with the first member. 
     
     
         14 . The animal enclosure of  claim 9 , further comprising a second member of the body, the second member being coupled to the base member and spaced from the first member. 
     
     
         15 . The animal enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the second member is at least partially parallel to the first member. 
     
     
         16 . The animal enclosure of  claim 9 , wherein the second member extends upward to define a second opening between the first member, the base member, and the second member. 
     
     
         17 . The animal enclosure of  claim 16 , wherein the second opening is larger than the first opening. 
     
     
         18 . The animal enclosure of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the second member has a greater length than the finger portion;   the second member has a shorter length than the first portion.   
     
     
         19 . The animal enclosure of  claim 16 , wherein, when the any one of the plurality of members comprises the door frame, a horizontal wire of the door is disposable in the second opening of the clip to hold the door in a partially open position relative to the door frame.